Machine for separating tapered articles



oct. 12 1926. '1,602,716

E. D. SMITH MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TAPERED ARTICLES Oct. 12 192e.

E. D. SMITH vMACHINE 'FOR SEPARATING TAPEED'ARTICLES Filed May 5. 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12 1926.

E. D. SMITH MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TAERED ARTAIGLES Filed May 5. 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. D. SMITH Oct 12 1926. 1,602,716

MACHINE `FOR SEPARATING `TAPEREID ARTICLES Filed May 5. 19214 a sheets-smet 4 .E. D. SMITH y MACHINE 'FOR SEPARATING TAPERED ARTICLES www@ Oct.- 12 y1926.

E. D. SMITH MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TAPERED ARTICLES -3 Filecl May 5.

1921 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 fa/mem@ Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,716

l E. D. SMITH f MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TAPERED ARTICLS Filed May 5. i921 `8 sheets-sheet 8 a W x l l I l l l R l Q i?, i

l v1 Q J/zvenifr ia ieee.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD D. SMITH, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO 'BEERLESS HUSKER COM- PANY, OF BUFFALO, NEVI YORK, A COPABTNERSHIE.

MACENE FOR EEARA ENG TAPEREQ ARTCLES.

Application filed May 5,

rllhis invention relates to a machine for automatically classifying or separating a heterogeneous mass of tapered articles (such as corn, carrots, pears, etc.) into two dist tinct groups, all of the articles in each group having' their butt ends uniformly pointing in the one direction and their tail ends pointing` uniformly in the opposite direction.

provide a machine of this character which is entirely automatic in its operation and which Will continuously and uninterruptedly perform its functions irrespective of hon7 the tapered articles being` handled may vary in size, shape or character. A further object of the invention is to not only classify or separate the tapered. articles into two proups having the tapered articles in each loup pointing` in the same direction. but also to so position all of the tapered articles of each group, so that their butt ends are all alined with each other. A still further object of the -invention is to provide emergency means whereby any particular recalcitrant taper-cd articles which do not quickly and properly separate themselves from the main body of heterogeneous tapered articles, are given prolonged and individual treatment. which continues until the desired separation is effected. Further objects and advantages of the invention are disclosed more exactly in the following description and accompanying drawings, ivherein- Figure l is a rear side view of the entire separator, showing particularly the driving;` iuoclzanisn'l. Figure 2 is a. vertical longitudinal section of the same but looking; from the front side thereof and taken on line 2M-2. Figs. 8 and 4l. Figures 3 and 4 are frangineutary top plan views (with parts in sec` on) of the rear and front ends respectively of the separator'and taken respectively on lines 3 3 and alla Fig. 2. Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse sections through the separator taken respectively on line 5 5, Fig'. and line ifi- 6. 9. Figures 7 and 8 are somevvhat enlz` ed fragmentary vertical transverse sections talren respectively on line 7--7, Fig. 3 and line SwS, Fig. Ll. Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section. through the rear end of the separator and taken on line SMQ, 6. Figures l0 and ll are detached vertical,

@ne of the objects of the invention is to 1321. Serial No. 457,044.

transverse sections showing the. operation oit the decenteringl rolls associated with Fig.

7. Figure l2 is likewise a detached, ver-V and centering rolls which are associated With Fig. 8. Figure l5 is a fragmentary, detached, vertical, longitudinal section shows ing a modified separating means consisting of a mesh belt.

Similar characters of reference refer to lilre parts throusrhout the several vievvs.

lt is obvious to those skilled in the art that the results'and advantages of the pres ent invention may be obtained by ma chines which vary considerably from the disclosure of the herein drawings. In fact, this machine must be altered considerably in detail for different tapered articles having different characteristics. For instance, carrots could not be properly handled in .a machine Which is suitable for handling pears, nor corn in a machine Which is suitable for handlingr cucumbers or beets. Furthermore, a number of optional devices are shown in the accompanying drawings which provide an additional surety of operation and which are only required in the handling vegetables, fruits, or other tapered articles, which have certain inherent chan acteristics and hence these additional devices may, in many cases, be dispensed Withen tirely. y i

The machine shown in the drawings has a main rigid frame consisting of a longitudinal, parallel pair of lower frame beams 20,--a rear set of upright posts 21,-a central set of upright posts 22 (both of said posts extending upwardly from the upper faces of said main frame beams ),-a number of cross tie bars 23,-and a pair of upper longitudinal fra-me bars 24 secured to the upper portions of the rea-rand central post-s 2l and 22 respectively. The rear end of the main frame is pivotally supported by a pair of standard-s i9 Whose upper ends or heads are journaled on a transverse drive shaft 25, Which is in turn journaled on and thereby supports the rear upright posts 2l of rthe main frame of the machine. The front end of the main frame is supported upon a stiff compression spring 26. The

Whole 'traine is thus resiliently end pivotally mounted so as to be capable of moving about the drive shaft 25, as an axis.

Arranged over the front end of the nia chine are a pair ot suitable stationary cross bars 27, which rigidly support a sip'oly chute 29 preferably open on its upper sine and having` the usual inclined flat bottoni 2l() and side Walls 3l. rlie liovv of tapered ticles which 'lloivs troni the niain supply bin 32 doivn the supply chute is controlled by flow regulator or bell-cranl control rake which is provided with the usual upstant: ing tines and is pivoted to the supply chin.. at 3d. rEhe tines et said control rake project upwardlyr through suitable slit or iperture. inthe bottoni 3G ol` 'said supply chute, the amount ot projection determining Whether or not any tapered articles are permitted to flow down said supply chute. rlfhe positionet the control relie is governed by the vertical position of the trout end et the main separator traine. This is acco1nplished by any suitable ineens, l'or instance by nieans of a flexible cable 3G, ne ond thereof being' secured to the upstandingl erin 37 ot the bell-crank control ra e fl. while the other end of said cable is suitablv7 secured to the front end of the niain traine of the separator, said cable passing over a able guide pulley Wheel 39 nternie its length, said pu ley Wheel being' journalefl suitably on the supply chute 30. this construction, the tapered a 1ticles are perinitted to flow 'from the aforesaid supply chute until a suiicient amount have been dropped into the trout part ot the reparator, proper, whereupon said front part becornes depressed by reason or the vve'gjht oli said tapered articles, and Vhereupou the flexible cable 3G is drawn tautand the bellcrank, control rake 33 inoved upwardly,

thereby cutting oli' the further supp tapered articles until those already de positcd have been sulliciently removed to perniit or the 'liront end or e conveyor proper again rising' under the ulluenee of the compression spring` Arranger at the forward traine ott the separator is a ieee 4l which receives the tapered a the mouth of the supply chute i ranged Within the said 'eecrir hopper and suitably journaled in the r ne of the separtor, are nur verse shirts 4Q, 43 and del; is provided with a p disposed sprockets carrying veyor chains 45. The shaft ably power driven in after described (see Fig. l.) Y Secured to said chains and extending` laterally and outvverd ly therefrom are a plurelity oit notched yse` tion conyeyor iliglits ed, tvhic.; spe apart a distance not lnuclgreater than, a1

racer/1e are talien up, With only one 'tapered article7 "V at inost, being1 permitted to lie trai'isverse` 73 only on each flight. li one of the escends with no load (t all no harin done. @n the other hand, no tapered can rest on any one of said flights except in a transverse position. Furthermore it incre 8J than one tape'ed article is picked up by ar" one oit the i llG, one of these ars is and ot lul and un-sta cle to roll eti' 93 iopper All. To prevent article through and iiall Ll@ 4.mted tapered art 'fito ecdin' any tipered troni Yfallin the bottoni oft the feeding` hopper portioi` olf the saine is or a sl a 'transversely semi-cylindrical a tl cre-ot being the axis of' the lovvr si" M Furthermore the outer ed said flights travel ir close proximity to the semi-cylindrical inner sui-race ot tion 47, so that there is not any perA of the tapered articles dropping; vvardly between said l'lijhts and said semi-- cylindrical portion. Y

frs the tapered articles are transverse position an( moved rearwardly upon the upper stretch oilE the l A seleccion conve* over two pairs o rolls 8. i3 and lil) which rre dinally and are suiml ly journaled i mein traine the separator. llolh pi rolls are suitably driven by incai i i chain 50 which d its pom-r "roei r.. lor 'tudiual jack sh.i haviipgf l. bcvcl pini@Al which i li a bevel ,fr 53 mounted on the 12, select-lou e: U7 veyor shaft i3. fr 'i driven the upper, rear, tr or shaft l2 by veyor chains -l a or centerin disp ,sed somewhat l centering` rolls 55, la in al poriphcries of all i'iour rolle' l. Wardly tov-:ard the center of the convevox. The outer een il erelv serv.

nuove tov. d 'the oerA which are too as are brush' feeding; hop i. one side of the action is carried out irrespective of whether it is the butt or the tail end of the tapered article that is on the outside. The decenteringr rolls however automaticallyv distinguish between the tapered articles which are pointing transversely in different directions. In llig. 13, for instance, the tapered article is shown with its tail pointing` toward the right, i. e;, the action of the inner or decentering rolls 55 operate to decenter this particular tapered article toward the right. is shown in l? let however,`a tapered article which has its tail pointing toward the lett is caused to be cle-centered toward the lett. rllhe reason for this dillferential action resides in the fact that the. center oi' gravity of an ordinary tapered vegetable or iruit is located well toward the thiol: or butt end thereof. This means that the tractive effect r the friction between any roll and the butt end ot the tapered article is much greater than the traction or `friction letween any roll and the tail end ot said tapered article. Thus the roll which is under the butt end oi the tapered article will rcause a movement of said tapered article despite any opposition et other rolls which are to be sure, turning in the opposite direction but are bearing upwardly against the lighter or tail portion oi said tapered article. It should be noticed, in passing, tiat the cross sectional area or open space between the upper portions of the adjacent rolls on either side olf the separator is occupied by the aforesaic selection conveyor chains L5 so that any slapping` or undue lateral movement of said chains is not liable to cause an interference with any ot the rolls. .lhe chains are preferably supported by, and run upon the upper lace ot, a suitable pair oll longitudinal runways 5T? suitably secured to the main traine ot the separator.

lSe'ferringl now to Figs. 2 and 4, we lind a tianrwerseI removing comb secured rigidly to the main tra-ine of the separator and having` its forwardly and substantially horizontally extending tines projecting into the path of said rearwardly moving` selection-conveyor flights 4:6, said tines passing` through the lateral notches 58 which are lorined in each ot said flights and entend 'troni the outer edges thereof inwardly toward the selection conveyor chains l5 to which said flights' are secured. The action oi said removing` comb is to gently but absolutely positively torce oil the tapered articles 4jroin the selectionL conveyor "flights, Hinged to and slanting rearwardly and downwardly from the rear transverse edge of said stationary removing; comb is a transversely disposed depositing` door 601 which receives the tapered articles from the removing' comb Journaled transversely in the main traine of the separator are three main conveyor shafts 60, @l and 62 and each shaft is provided with a pair of main conveyor sprockets which carry a pair of main conveyor chains 63. These chains tornil an upwardly moving' incline-d upper stretch at the central part of the separatorV-a rearwardly movingl horizontal stretch at the. rear part of the separator, and a lower, idle or return stretch at the lower part ot the separator. The chains are driven from the rearniost upper shaftGO, which (see Figs. l and 23) is provided at its extreme outer end with a large sprocket wheel (3f-l carrying` a belt chain 65 driven from the niain transverse drive shaft 25 through an intermediate jacl; or stub shaft 66 provi-ded with a suitable pair oi sprocket wheels. Said main drive shalt 2:5 carries a belt pulley wheel 67 at its estreme outer end, the saine being` belted to any suit able available source of power. rllhe main conveyor chains 63 are provided at suitable intervals with laterally outwardly extending' arms 68 in whose outer ends are journaled transverse rotatable flights YO, which are adapted to carry the tapered articles lonsi1 tudinally in a transverse position similar to the rigid selection-conveyor ights Each ot these rotatable {iig-lits is centrally thiol:-` ened and has its opposite ends tapered somewhat or thinned down, so that each halt ot each rotatable conveyor Aflight is ot the shape of a truncated cone.

These rotatable, main-conveyor flights 70 move upwardly and` rearwardly beneath the depositing door 601, elevating` the same successively as they pass thereunder, friction beingeliminated by the tact that these flights 70 are rotatably mounted on their main conveyor chains 63. The main conveyor chains with their rotatable flights 70 and the selection conveyor flights i6 are, o1" course, moved in synchronisin and as the aoresaid depositing door rides over and successively falls down behind each one ot said rotatable flights 70, a tapered article is caused to roll down upon said depositing door from the rearinost selection conveyor` flight 4G. It should be noted that this tapered article is not dropped d own upon the main conveyor, but is gently rolled down a gentle incline and rolled down all the way to its iinal position. This would not occur it the depositing door were not hinged.

It a tapered article should roll down this depositing door 601 when the latter is in its elevated position, said tapered article is prevented from rolling over the rear side of the particular rotatable iiipfhtr 70 which is supporting said door 601 tor two reasons, 1.n because said depositing door in its elevated position slopes obliquely upwardly and rearwardly thereby iinpeding the rolling inomentuin of said tapered article for so long7 and so long;- only, as said door is in its elevated position and 2.-because oit a rotatable brush 7l which is mounted on a transverse lill) les shaft 7i() suitablj7 journaled in the rnain traine oi" the separator and driven by a belt cli-ain troni a sproeiret Til which lader is sccurecL t and theirebj7 driven by the lower, Aliront inain conveyor shalt Lhe lower bristles ot this brush 'Tl travels in a direcand in jirfztaposition tion contr( i to the upper surface of the tapered arti. Y moi/infr lonkfgl'itudinallji beneath said bri, i. ',ilieretore no tapered article can roll the depositing; door 601 (when the latt r .l in its ele *at-ed pos'V ion) or pass between the said brush and the taperel article which is alreadj7 properlyv in position in iront or adj ace it flight Ti.

rllhe main conveyor with its rotatable flights TO causes ot course a loi rudinal inoiieinent ot the tapered articles, 'ie latter are however, not supported by said con Weyer but are supported bf; an inclined supporting; plate Zlnhich is provided, on its upper race, rith transverse corrugations 75. lt only single tapered article .is between an;Y cer 'i pair oft rotatable i TO, the action er these cor upations is to rotate the tapered article up the incline, this rolling' action being` facilitated by the tlu `he 'flights 70 are journaled on the conrjior chains G3. @ne advantage o rolling' action is that, it an;7 oli the t articles being' handled have loose, la projecting;-

loose portions will be compacted and rolled portions leaves or Steins these ,L 1

dat and smooth against the rnain bodjfY ot each tapered article. The Value oit this coinp: cti o* action is hereinafter described.

A iturther aenelicial result is obtfiined hv 'his rolling' action Whenever, accidentally, it happens that tiro tapered articles are disposed between two adjacent rotatalile ilinhts 70. ln si ch a case the rearinost tapered article is rotated as beitore. The foremost ot the two tapered articles however is subjected to two rolling; forces which oppose each other and which tend to cause the trout taper-ed article to be thrown up and out oiA the Way. lli the space between the next succeedinnj pair oit rotatable iliehts TO is unoccupied, this extra tapered Lrticle will tall therein and thereafter act in a les tiinate n'ianner. lt' this condition does not occur immediately', the process will be continued until this extra tapered article does tind a suitable Welcome Vacancyv between two adjacent rolls TOD Additional precautions are taken to prevent two tapered articles troni re i between two adjacent rotatable flights 7n consisting oit a star-shaped knock-out spider T6, Which is suitablj7 mounted on a` shaft 77 journaled transversely,7 in the inain freine end Leosf/ie all); projecting,l arins ot this Lnoclr-out sp pass in succession through a pluraiitr o longitudinal slots iioiined suita inclined, supporting plate 7l. rhis spider rotated in srnchronisin with the long L Vf iii

nal increment ot the rotatable .1 j ano. each or am nights cornes into juxtaposition With said spider, one of the arins oi' the latter swings torvardlj up and just behind the rear tace oit the adjacent the nilhis inoveinent does not touch or ini with anjT tapered article which proper position on the front side oi jacent rear flight 70. But it inore tl' f tapered article l fr carried loi.

at its bristles ot the aiuiliarj.7 brush 83 not only travel in juxtrvpoA tion to the upper sui aces oit the tapered a -cles which are lffinrg on he riainA coi'feix but said ln'istles-also travel in jui 'aposition to the outer ct the arins oi said knock-out spider 176. Thus the objectionable or extra tapered article is lire-t lijiited out oit the space between the rotatable flights TO and is then oreiblj7 brushed baci and out ot the way Witliou: any possibilityY oit crowding in between said knockout spider and the said ausiliariY brush S3.

As the inain conveyor reaches the top o!E the inclined supporting plate Tft, it pas es around the sprockets on a transverse sh 6l and then mores horizontalljT and lon tiulinallj7 rearwardlyY of the machineA ne tapered articles are nony ibjccted to the action of a pair ot aumiarjr, preparatory decenterinfr rolls 90. Which are horizonte ,if

and lonpgitucinallj7 disposed and are suit-:ilf,r journaled in the inain traine olE the machine.

rf lio n The driving' ot the saine nia anyv suitable manner, such Y,Vier in nce as that shown in 7, wherein is shown :i tra isverse shaft 91 journaled on the inflin 'traine posts or the nia bevel gear at its one end and EIT llo

also carries a small sprocket wheel 97 rearwardly of said bevel pinion 06. This sprocket (see F 7) drives a chain belt 99 whose upper end passes around sprocket 100 mounted on on-e of the decentering and whose intermediate part engages with an intermediate sprocket 101 mounted on a suitably journaled jack shaft 10Q. The latter drives a supplemental chain belt 103 whose upper turn engages with a sprocket wheel 1041- mounted on the other one of said deeentering rolls 90. The decentering action of these rolls 90 is graphically seen in Figs. 10 and 11, the action being similar to that of the primary decentering rolls heretofore described, i. e., each tapered article is given a primary movement toward its tail end, said movement being laterally of the machine but co-aXially longitudinal of said tapered articles. A modified pair of decentering rolls 160 are shown in Fig. 2, said rolls in this case being provided with a plurality of pointed knobs, teeth or protuberances 161 which facilitate the tractive effect of said rolls upon the tapered articlesv V separator is longitudinally slidably mounted on a pair of horizontal guide flanges or ribs 106 which are formed on the main frame of the machine. Formed centrally on the lower face of said separator 105 is a pair of vertical transverse thrust walls 107 spaced longitudinally apart from each other. Received between the inner opposing faces of said thrust walls 107 is the upper rounded head 100 of a rocker arm 110 which is suitably f secured to a transverselyjournaled rock shaft 111. The one outer end of said rock shaft carries a crank arm 112 which is pivoted to a connecting rod 113. The latter is driven from the aforementioned transverse shaft 91 in al peculiar and novel manner as fol lows:

Secured eccentrically to said shaft 91 is a constant angular speed driving gear 114i, whose peripheral speed howev r is not constant. This gear has an annular outer rim provided with suitable gear teeth, the pecullniob shaped gear teeth shown in the drawing having been found to be more satisfactory than ordinary convolute gear teeth. Journaled transversely and suitably on the main frame of the machine is a jaclsshaft 115 carrying an eccentric, variable-angular speed, driven gear 116, whose outer rim is annular and is provided with suitable gear teethwhich mesh with the teeth of the conrollsv stant angular speedgear 114. By means of this construction, the jack shaft 115 is caused to first rotate very rapidly for one half a revolution and then caused to rotate very slowly the next half revolution, the shaft 91 (which drives the same) being however rotated at a constant speed by the chain belt 05.- aforementioned. The forward end of the connecting rod 113 is eccentrieally pivoted to said variable speed gear 116. Thus the o-scillatory separator 105 is caused to move irregularly, i. e., its longitudinal rearward movement is fast whereas its longitudinal forward movement is relatively slow. It is preferable to have these two speeds so proportioned that the speed of said separator relative to the conveyor is approximately the ksame Vin either direction. The oscillating` separator is also preferably provided with a considerable number of transverse corrugations 119. It is also preferable to provide a number of stationary, longitudinal grid bars 120, the opposite ends of the same being suitably secured to the main frame of vthe "machine and the intermediate parts of the same being slidably received within a num` ber of longitudinal slits 121 formed in the upper face of the oscillating` separator 105. The purpose of these grids is to prevent the tapered articles from falling through the middle part of the machine when the oscillatory separator moves one way or the other out of engagement with said tapered articles, i. e. away from under the same, and when furthermore said tapered articles are not otherwise supported by the main stationaryl horizontal 'supporting plate 122. These vgrid'bars are disposed considerably below the surface of the said corrugations 119 of the separator, so that said grids in no way interfere with the contact between the tapered articles and the upper surface of said separator.

`The action of the separator upon the tapered articles moving` longitudinally upon its upper surface (but arrainged in a transverse position relatively thereto) is best shown in Fig. 3. The general principle of operation may be stated as follows: lf a apered or conical article is in a. transverse position and` is caused to roll, it will move bodily transversely toward its apex. This action will be greatly facilitated and quiclri ened if said article is first permitted to roll some distance in an arc shape path and is then brought suddenly into contact with a transverse member, which operates to cause the butt end of said article to be thrown toward the center of this imaginary are. If then said tapered article be rolled in an are in the opposite direction and again comes forcibly into contact with a parallel transverse member, it is seen that said tapered articles may be moved toward their tail ends at a comparatively high rate of speed. In

the present invention, this alternating rollinp; action is accomplished by the eo-uetion ot the oscillatory separator 105 'which supports the tapered article.. and which operates in conjunction r-:ith the main convejrfor chains and rotatable Aflights 'l0 which latter merely longitudinally Carr7 the said tapered articles in a transverse position over the upper surface ot said separator.

dournalet suitably in the main traine ot the machine is a pair of longitudinal trans- "terrine` rolls whose peripheries are pre'l erably coated or covered With rough rubber or lile mater-al. The rotation ot each ot' these rolls such that the upper peripheries ot the same are moved outwardly, this rote tion being` obtained by a suitable chain be t 125 driven by the longitudinal shaft 96 aforementioned and operating` to drive Y air ot longitudinal jack shafts 126 and 127. rlhe latter drive a pair of jack-shaft, chf.' belts 129 Whose upper turns engage vrith sprocket Wheels 130 Secured to the said transferring' rolls 12%. Thee rolls act to continue the lateral movement of the tapered articles otter the same have been moved laterally off ot the aforesaid separator 105. This action ot the rolls continues until the tapered articles are moved laterally to the dotted line position of 5, i. e., until the rolls no longer support said tapered arti 'les and are therefore unable to longer iniiuence the lateral movement of the saine.

Arranged outside and alongside ot said transferring rolls 124 is a pair ot horizontal runways 131 each ot which is preferably provided with a pair of chain guidevrays 132 which lat-ter receive a pair ot endless, carrier7 chain-belts 133 Whose tlpposite ends pass around pairs of sprockets 131i. The

rear sets oit siirockets are mounted on and driven by the rearmost transverse, main conveyor shaft 60 While the fron sets ot sprockets '134; are mounted on the int-erniediate, .ransrerse main conveyor shaift Gl. Secured suitably to said carrier chain-belts 133 are a number ot carrier ilights 15:35 which proterably spaced apart a distance equal to the siiacing of the rnain-conveyo n, roller flights TO. 'l'fhese flights ope-ate to pic-l1; up the tapered articles a'tter they have been noved laterally off oit the transfer rolls 12d, and carry the same longitudinali ,o the rear end oi? the runways 19' ev 'fall ott' io Where le, or are deposited onto any suitable conveyor (not shown), or Where in the. ense et' corn in the huslt, the butts are cuto'l by any su v.ly ar 'anged and operated suiv or other device, When the ears Will pass directly to a bushing machine Where the released huslrs vrill be removed.

ln some very rare e; ses, the tapered articles are so nearly cylindrical in slape to be unable to be separated by the separator' 105 during` the length time con unied in no (hij a i trans voted 137 to a pair of: .ii-arl are suitabl.7 secured to i" or Jthe machine. This aufili. er is ot channel shape bottom plate le20 ar 'lit transverse Walls 141 ri. the opposite 'trai sverae edge.; ol' sz e 140. Such tapered arti les separated by the il remain, ot conne, on the real il travel along longitu inni"I saine. until they fall oir the rear end thoreor, yhereupon they tall or erop u toni plate 1li() oi? id auxi t'leciiied to the latter is a deuil, pitting roel-r lever 142 Whose e:A end is piv( at 1&3 to a ro linh The latter pivoted its toi-werd to the crunk arm 112 eribed. Bv this construction separating nieinber is compcll continuou. and any taiierefl z' iis. ls tle.' for.. is subjected to a of iai-a"4 f' tion ivi l endures until the l nien cle is 'forced to fall, tail tore one ot the other side ot suie au arating' member. This noeess is pre1? ably by termino; a pluralitr, ve e serrt ions 14 upon tht oit the bottom pla or separat Y d v is shown i 3 aine passi ul I iiled respen n A convoisy slut' rlhe uppe tretch ot this n .1. if .n.1 .fers ioivia ployetl l v'ev' r chains foar Wheel i131 c elia'tt and nr.; pinion peer 152 securer to a 'rz shaft les. '.llhe atter carries a etvfheel 1552 which dii?" Whose upper turn eng.'l sprocket 156. The lat thereby rotates the etoremen vheel l) drives lthe meen e rlhe action le tapered articles quito singular i which it su 'n its action to tiet ot the oscillatory sennrator heretofore described. `That is, the tapered articles are moved longitudinally oli the inachine in a substantially transverse position by a nain conveyor (S3 and are sub- 'ecteil to a rolling` action which is caused by a separator, the latter supporting saidtapered articles and travelling; longitudinally at a speed which is different trom thau ot said conveyor. The action ol the mesh belt separator lli' is best uneerstood i imagining that the tapered article is constantly rolling` longitudinally on said sep arator in an arc which curves outwardly in tie direct-ion of the point ot the tapered article, and 'that despite the 'act that .itdoes not 'travel any appreciable ain-cant oi this are, nevertheless it has been clearly shovvn by actual demonstration that the tapered article when rotated. on a vdat surface alvrays does move longitudinally toward its tail end. j

lt is now apparent that this separator tor tapered articles not only automatic in its` operation but absolutely and untailingly reliable as Well. Very careful provision is made for 'feeding only certain amounts olI the 'apered articles into the feeding` hopper ll ol the machine. A number ot successively operative provisions are made for ensuring' that no more than one tapered article will be carried by any one rotatable flight 70. Provision is also made tor constantly rolling the tapered article alongso that any' loose stems, leaves, etc. which. project laterally from the tapered article vvill be packed or matted against the side oi the article, and thus ensure the positive and proper sepration of the same ivhen it rides over either the oscillatory separator 105 or the mesh belt separator lll-7 as the case may he. An au: 'liary separator 136 is also provided :tor any occasional tapered article which is not j nfoperly separated by the main sepa-A rator. Furthern'iore, alter the tapered articles are separated laterally, they are automatically caused to position themselves with their bruits iu ahsolute alinement with each other.

rlhe particular machine illustrated in tho drawings as embodying my invention is especially adapted to handle and alignfears oit corn in the husk.

ln the operation of corn huslring machines it is the general practice to place the individual ears oli corn on the husler conveyor, by hand, in which the hut-ts are all aligned against a guide rail or other suitable device, and are thus carried past a. circular savvor other means for removing the yiutt ends ot the ears and release the hush so that the rolls of the huslcing ma chine can engage the saine and remove it from the ear. Y

A decapitating saiv or other suitable device may be operated near, or just beyond the ends ol the conveyors 133, or thealigned ears may pass directly onto the conveyors ot the hashing machine, (not shown), also, those ears that may pass into the aligning; device 136 may pass :trom thel ends ther-ectl directly onto the husling machine conveyo 3.

TWhile l have described the action ot the rolls and 55 as tending to align tapered articles in a. cetain manner, it isl obvious that by changing the direction of rotation ot the rolls `in any manner desired the taper# ed articles will be moved laterally into any desired alignment relative to lthe conveyor or to the sides of the feeding;- hoppen-or any other member or gage that may be placed there. u i

For example, one decentering` roll and the conveyor will operate to move a tapered article in a lateral direction, the only desideratuni beingA that the article rest on the surface of the roll so there is tractive etecft. @ne decentering; roll and one centering` roll niay be used and the movement of the tapered article ivill still be in a lateral di rection relative to its forward path Yof travel. Both rolls may be rotated 0r only the decentering` roll rotated and the other roll simply acting as an additional support 'lor the end of the tapered article. Thus have provided a very simple and ellective device 'for the lateral movement and align-- ment oit tapered articles that are being conveyed in a torsvarddirection. i

Considering` further, see 5 and G Where I have illustrated means tor moving` articles along;` a 'traine ivorl by means oih a longitudinally moving conveyor, vvith a.

roller positioned longitudinally adjacent saidgtrame for engaging andinoving articles in a lateral direction relative to their former path ol movement along` said iframe. 'i' 5 l claim as my invention: y

l. An apparatus for aligning'tapered ar-4 ticl s comprising' a traine, conveying1 means moving,l longitudinally or said frame lor moving;l tapered arti-cies tliercalong, a roller longitudinally disposed relative to said trame and positioned underneath said are ticles as moved alone; said "trame ior eng'ag in@n said articles and moving` the vsame laterally with respect to their longitudinal movement along said iframe with means for impr- 'ting motion to said conveyor and said roller. Y ,o

2. A separator .lforftapercd articles comprising a trame, a longitudinally mova-lile conveyor, a pair ol' longitudinally disposed decncnterinQl rolls journalcd. in said trame and having" their upper ptripheries movingV f 3 A separator for tapered articlescom- 'l ripheries or the inner pair et decentering rolls, and transversely disposed conveyor flights secrred to said conveyor and lapted to longitudinally carry the transversely disposed tapered articles along the npger peripheries ot both pairs of rolls.

4l. It sei a 'ator for tapered articles coinprisiii.; a traine, a longitudinal ciecentering roll a longitudinal centering` roll jonrnaled in said traine and disposed the one at a higher elevation than the other, and a longitudinally inovable conveyor adapted to carry the tapered articles in transverse position along the ripper neripheries ot' said rolls. i

5. fr ,f-ieparator tor tapered articles c nprising a traine9 a longitud nal lccenteiing roll and a. longitudinal cen roll jonrnaled in said traine1 ineans 'for rotating s rolls in the saine direction, ane a long L, dinally ii'iovable conveyor adapted to cari@v the tapered articles in a transverse position along the upper peripheries oit said rolls.

G. A. separator tor tapered articles coin` prisina' a tranie. a pair ot longitudinal rolls ionrnaled in said traine, a conveyor chain inovalile longitndinall)Y ot iid roll and di. posed therebetween, and lights secured to and prej-` t' ecsing` laterallyY frein said conveyor chain' and adapted to cariv the tapered articles al the ripper surfaces or' seid rolls. 7 it# separator tor tapered articles conv prisine' a traine, a

y selection conveyor ar- 'angco said traine, notched flights secured to and projecting' laterallyT fron `said conveyor,y and a removingv coinb having tines 7which project laerallv into the path et said ifl'cjhts and pass through the .said notches ot said notched flights ttor removingall of the articles Yfrein said conif'eyor and dir cting the saine theretroin.

8. A separator ior tapered articles coniiirising` a itfraine, a longitndinally-inovable inain convavon transverse rotatable flights arranged on said conveyor and having` ccntrallv thickened portions and tapered ends, and ineans for snpplvingthe tapered articles to said conveyor. Y

9. A separator tor tapered articles coinprising` a traine. a lon tndinally-in vaole inain conveyor, transverse flights jonrnaled on said conveyor and tapered at their outer ends, and ineans for snpplyingtapered articles te said conveyor.

l0. A separator for tapered articles cornprising` a traine. a transversely serrated sup- ,vie

porting plate arranged in said traine, a longitudinal y-iiioval ie niain conveyor arlanged aliove said sajrr rtingplate7 and transverse 'flights arranged en said conveyor and aclanted to carry the tapere l articles in a transverse position.

ll. i separator ifor tapered articles coinprising a. traine, a t;ansverseljrv serrated suo porting plate, a lcngitndinall )i niovahle conveyor arranged above sain snpportin pl trai sverse flights jonrnaled on ffo veyor.

ill

icles conitio i plate disposed lie-on* ogerating' te rotate the t 'e the one direction, and a reniY operating to rotate the tapered ai' the opposite direction l5. A separater toi4 tapered prising av traine5 a lonegiti-.idi' -i niain conveyor liar/*ingtri. ineens tor pe tively reinovin tapered articles 'troni ineens for a siihscqnciit sei-ieri oit the tajricring; articles viherebiy caused to nieve in a diffe-ren; dilY the others.

1G. fr separator prising' a 'lli-aine, a main conveyor lievi knock-ont spider j.' and having; prongs for tapered articles corilonf idinallyn'iovable transverse l. elits., a

. irfn ivingr into tl e itapositioi to the rear 'faces ol its andreniovinfr excess articles thcrelron'i, and ineans tor ette ino' subsequent separation ot the tapered articles vliereliiy saine are caused to nieve in a ditiierent direction than the others.

l?. A sepai vfor tape fed articles coniprir-ing a traine, a longitudine.llyonevalile inain conveyor having` transverse flights, a knock-ont spider jonrnaled trcnsverselvin said trarne and rotated synchrononslv vitli the longitudinal movement of said tlights which iatli ot said conveyor and inV and removing excess articles therefrom, and means for effecting a subsequent separation of the tapered articles whereby they are caused to move in lateral directions relative to their longitudinal line of travel.

18. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame, a longitudinally-movable main conveyor having transverse flights, and a knock-out spider journaled in said frame and having prongs which swing up into the path of said conveyor, and a reversingbrush rotated in the opposite direction from that of .said spider and having its lower bristles in juxtaposition to the uppermost prongs of said spider.

19. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame, a transversely serrated supporting plate, a conveyor, flights mounted on said conveyor, a removing brush mounted above said flights, and a knock-out .spider rotated in the opposite direction from that of said removing brush and adapted to have its prongs extend upwardly into juxtaposition with the rear faces of the said flights.

20. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame` a longitudinally-movable conveyor adapted to carry the tapered articles in a transverse position,'and a separating member adapted to .support said tapered articles and to move longitudinally in a direction opposite to that of said conveyor'.

21. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame, a longitudinally-movable conveyor, a longitudinally movable separating member, and means for oscillating said separating member in such manner that its speed relatively to said conveyor is the same in either direction.

22. A separator for tapered articles comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor adapted to carry the tapered articles in a transverse position, and a longitudinallymovable oscillatory separating member adapted to support the tapered articles.

'23. A separator for tapered articles comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor adapted to carry the tapered articles in a transverse position, and a longitudinallymovable, oscillatory separating member provided with transverse serrations and adapted to support the tapered articles. Y

24. A separator for tapered articles comprising a longitudinally-movable, oscillatory separating member adapted to support the tapered articles, and means for longitudinally oscillating said separating member at a greater speed in the one directiony than in the other.

25. A .separator for tapered articles cornprising a frame, a constant speed longitudinally-movable conveyor, an oscillatory separating member, a constant 'speed driving gear 'wheel 'mounted eccentr1cally in said frame, and a variable speed. driven gear,` wheel meshing with said driving gear wheel and operating to actuate said separatingmember. y

26. A separator Yfor tapered articles comprising a frame, a longitudinally-movable conveyor, a separating member, a driving gear wheel eccentrically mounted in said frame and driven at constant speed, a driven gear wheel meshing with said driving gear wheel and likewise eccentrically mounted in said frame, and a connecting rod eccentrical` ly `pivoted at one end to said driven gear wheel and operatively connected at its other end with said .separating member.

27. A separator for ytapered articles comprising a frame, a conveyor, a separating member arranged adjacent to said conveyor and supporting said articles while the same are propelled by said conveyor, a rocker arm ulcrumed on said frame and connected with said separator member, and means for moving said rocker arm at a greater speed forwardly than rearwardly.

28. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame, a conveyor, a separating member, a rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame and connected with said separator member', and means for moving said rocker arm at a greater speed forwardly thanrcarwardly, comprising a pair of gear wheels, each eccentically mounted in said frame and the one driven at a constant rotative speed and the other operatively connected with.

saidrocker arm. y

29. .A separator for tapered articles comprising a conveyor, a primary separating member arranged beneath said conveyor, and a secondary separating member arranged adjacent to the rear end of said lconveyor.

30. A separator for tapered articles comprising a conveyor, a primary separating member arranged beneath said conveyor and moved at a speed which is diferentfrom but depends upon that of said conveyor, and

a .secondary separating member which'is disassociated from said conveyor and may be moved rvat a. speed which is independent of the speed of said conveyor.

3l. A separator for tapered articles comprising a conveyor, a primary separating member adapted to separate the tapered articles which have. a sharp taper, and a secondary separating member which receives its supply from said primary separating member and` is adapted to separate the tapered articles which are nearlycylindrical.

32. A separator for tapered articles comprising a frame, a conveyor, `a rocker arm pivoted on said frame, a primary separating member lactuated by said rocker arm, and a secondary separating member likewise actuated by said rocker arm. l

A separator for tapered articles comprlsing a frame, a conveyor,^a longitudinally-movable primary separating member arlac CII

ranged beneath said conveyor, and a secondary oscillatory separating member pivoted to the traine and arranged adjacent to and be loiv the rear end ot said conveyor.

A separator tor tapered articles coinprising` a trame, a lengitudinally-moyable conveyor' adapted to carry the tapered articles in a transverse position, al longitudinallyanovable separating member adapted t-o move the tapered articles laterally, and a longitudinal transfer roll `iournaled in said frame and adapted to` further move said tapered articles laterally.

,A separator for tapered articles comprising a iframe, a longitudinaliymovablc conveyor adapted to carry tapered articles, means lor separating;l said tapered articles and moving` the same laterally away from said conveyor, and a longitudinally movable larrier adapted to receive the tapered ar ticles which are moved away 'from said conveyor. l

36. fr separator Jfor tapered articles comprising; a longitudinally-movable conveyor adapted to carry tapered articles, means for separating said tapered articles and moving the same laterally away from said c`on veyor, and a longitudinally journaled trans- `i'er roll adapted to control the amount ot the said lateral movement oit said separated, tapered articles.

37. A separator for tapered articles comprising a longitudinally-movable conveyor adapted to carry tapered articles, means tor separa't-inesaid tapered articles and moving the same laterally.away Yfrom said conveyor, a longitudinally journaled transfer roll adapted to control the amount o't the said lateral movement ot said separated, tapered articles, and a carrier adapted to impartonly a longitudinal movement to said tapered articles after their lateral move-ment has been definitely determined by said removal roll.

A separator Ytor tapered articles comprisingu a trame, a pair ot transverse shafts journaled in said trameand provided with sprocket Wheels, an endless conveyor and an endless carrier both engaging ivith the aforesaid sprockets, and means for separatme' and laterally moving` the tapered articles 'from said conveyor to said carrier.

A separator tor tapered articles comprising' a trame, a pair ot upper transverse shatts journaled inv said iframe and provided with sprocket wheelsa carrier engaging with the said sprockets of said upper transverse shafts, a lower transverse shaft also journaled in said trame and also provided With sprockets, a conveyor eng-aging vvvith both the sprockets of said ripper transverse shafts andals'o with Vthe sprockets of said lower transverse shatt, and means for laterally ,sepzii-atineand moying the tapered articles from said conveyor to said carrier.

VslO. The process ot handlingl tapered articlesl consisting ot longitudinally and bodily carrying the articles in a transverse position and' at the same time causing the tapered articles to be rotated by means ol' a separator which engages the periphery of said tapered articles and moves in a longitudinal direction at a ditlerent speed than the speed oit said conveyor.

yil. A machine ot the character described, comprising means l'or conveying the articles to be assorted, and longitudinally reciprocating supporting means Jfor rolling and vibrating the same While being conveyed.

A sepa -ator for tapered articles comprising a iframe, a supporting plate and a conveyor each movable in parallel planes and n'iounted in superposed relation, .said conveyor having lie-lits attached thereto lor ci rryingj tampered articles.

""9. ill separator tor tapered articles comprising;` a iti-ame, a lone'itudinally movable supiiortingr plate, and a longitudinally movable conveyor arranged above said supporting plate for cai ying; tapered articles.

dell. fr separator vt'or tapered articles comprising i, trame, a supporting plate, a main. conveyor mo able longitudinally ot said supporting plate and adapted to move articles, iigfhts arranged on said conveyor and projecting` thereirom a less distance than do the said articles, and a moving member arranged in said Yl'rame above said conveyor and contacting` with articles carriedby said 'mveyor to remove the same therefrom.

4-5. ,ln a machine ttor handling` and aligninglj elongated articles the combination of means Ytor supplying` a quantity of articles, a series ol conv ying and transfer means cooperatinq in a manner to move elongated articles in tivo directions relative to their axes` one oi" said means operating after the other ceases to act, 1Thereby selected ends of said articles will be placed in alignment Ytor subsequent operation.

l-(. A machine tor handling and segregab ing articles comprisii'ro; a plurality ol conveyors mounted to operate in tandem, means on one ot said conveyors lor positively engaging and successivel),v movin.;T articles trom a promiscuously arranged supply, means For transterringr articles from said conveyor to a tandem conveyorWhere said articles are moved in the same general line ot travel, means operatingl in conjunction with said coiiveyor to move said articles laterally lo their normal line of' travel for the purpose of aligningi` and positioning said articles tor subsequent operations.

47. A machine tor handling` and segregat ing elongated articles con'iprising1 separated conveying' means mounted to operate in the saine lineal direction. one ot said conveyors being' adapted to select and move articles from a promiscuously arranged supply,

llo

means whereby articles selected by said Convcyor are transferred to another conveyor where they are conveyed in the same lineal direction, cooperatin g movable means for engaging said articles and giving them lateral movement whereby they are positioned and aligned for subsequent operations.

A machine for handling and aligning elongated articles comprising a plurality oit com-*eying means mounted to operate in the same lineal direction, one oi' said conveyors being adapted to select articles from a promiscuously arranged supply and deliver said articles in aligned relation to another of said conveying means where said articles are progressed in the same general direction, cooperating movable means for imparting lateral movement to said articles whereby their outer ends are aligned for subsequent operations.

4.9. An apparatus for handling and aligning elongated articles comprising a series of cooperating conveying means, the lirst of said means being adapted to select articles from a promiscuously arranged supply and deliver them successively in parallel relation to the second ot said series of conveying means, which second conveying means moves said articles into the operative zone of the third of said series of conveying means where said articles are given lateral movement and are gradually moved away from the control of said second series of conveying means and passed into the control of the ifourth of said series of conveying means where said articles assume the final desired position of alignment.

50. An apparatus for handling and alignelongated articlesk comprising a series of conveying means operating in the same lineal direction whereby elongated articles are selected from a promiscuously arranged supply, are given longitudinal and lateral movement through the combined action of said series of conveying means, transfer means operating in conjunction with said conveying means whereby said articles are caused to assume positions of alignment with selected ends of said articles all pointing in4 the same genera] direction for subsequent operations.

51. An apparatus comprising a series of conveyors all moving in the same general direction and adapted to move elongated tapered articles, reciprocating means for engaging articles while being moved by one of said series of conveyors and imparting lateral movement thereto, transfer means for moving said articles to other conveyors of said series whereby selected ends of said articles are placed in alignment.

52. In a machine for handling and aligning elongated articles the combination of means for automatically supplying measured quantities oi' elongated articles, a conveyor for selecting articles from said supply and moving the same in a lineal direction at approximately right angles to their axes, a companion conveyor for `receiving said articles and moving them in the same manner, auxiliary transfer means for imparting axial movement to said articles while being moved by said companion conveyor and thus causing said articles to pass out of the control of said conveyor and assume aligned positions.

53. In a machine for handling and aligning elongated articles the combination of conveying means for articles, a housing for containing said conveying means, resilient means supporting one end of said housing, a measuring device mounted adjacent said housing for controlling the flow of articles, said measuring device being operated by the deflection of said housing through the presence of a measured quantity of articles resting in said housing.

54. In a machine for handling and aligning elongated articles the combination of conveying and aligning means, a housing for containing said conveving and aligning means and having vertical movement, resilient means supporting one endV of said housing, an article supply means comprising an interrupting device for controlling the fiow of articles and mounted adjacent the movable end of said housing, said interrupting device being operable from the vertical movement of said resiliently supported housing. Y

55. A machine for handling and aligning ears of corn in the husk and aligning the butt ends of said ears for severance of said butts comprising a hopper carrying a supply of corn, a flow control device in said hopper, a housingfor receiving said corn from said hopper as admitted by said flow control device, a series of conveyors and aligning devices mounted in and on said housing for receiving and manipulating said ears of corn whereby the butts thereof are placed in alignment for severance.

EDWARD D. SMITH. 

